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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 15: King Pṛthu’s Appearance and Coronation
4.15.54.15.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.15.6

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sagessince 4.15.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एष साक्षाद्धरेरंशो जातो लोकरिरक्षया ।

इयं च तत्परा हि श्रीरनुजज्ञेऽनपायिनी ॥ ६ ॥

eṣa sākṣād dharer aṁśo

jāto loka-rirakṣayā

iyaṁ ca tat-parā hi śrīr

anujajñe ’napāyinī

Translation

In the form of King Pṛthu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has appeared through a part of His potency to protect the people of the world. The goddess of fortune is the constant companion of the Lord, and therefore she has incarnated partially as Arci to become King Pṛthu’s queen.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Empowers Pṛthu to Protect

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared through part of His potency as King Pṛthu to protect the people of the world.

  2. 2

    Extraordinary power indicates a specific partial representation of the Lord. Such empowered personalities are not all direct viṣṇu-tattva plenary expansions.

  3. 3

    Incarnations empowered for specific purposes are called śaktyāveśa-avatāras. Pṛthu was empowered by the Lord, and Arci by the goddess of fortune, whose constant companionship with the Lord is reflected in her becoming Pṛthu’s queen.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says that whenever one sees an extraordinary power, he should conclude that a specific partial representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is present.
  • King Pṛthu was such a śaktyāveśa-avatāra of the Lord.
  • Similarly, Arci, King Pṛthu’s wife, was a śaktyāveśa-avatāra of the goddess of fortune.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 15: King Pṛthu’s Appearance and Coronation

Pṛthu and Arci appear from Vena’s arms; Pṛthu receives royal gifts and humbly questions premature praise.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.15
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eṣaḥthis male
  2. sākṣātdirectly
  3. hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. aṁśaḥpartial representative
  5. jātaḥborn
  6. lokathe entire world
  7. rirakṣayāwith a desire to protect
  8. iyamthis female
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “companion”, “companionship”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.15

    In this verse: “protect”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Pṛthu’s purpose teach me about using power to protect others?

Practice

Identify one ability you have and use it today to help protect or care for someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Empowers Pṛthu to ProtectThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.15.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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